DEAN Ryan said that “hard conversations” need to be held after Dragons RFC were dismantled 44-6 by Edinburgh in the opening game of the season.

Despite taking an early six-point lead and looking the sharper of the teams in the opening 20 minutes, the Dragons handed the momentum back to hosts – who took full advantage by running in seven unanswered tries.

The match saw five of the nine new additions at Rodney Parade starting, but Dragons conceded 21 penalties on their way to defeat in an all to familiar story for fans.

Director of rugby Ryan criticised the players after the game, saying he could not see talent in his side.

Ryan highlighted Chris Dean’s try – where Blair Kinghorn sprinted clear from his own 22 before squaring it to Dean on halfway to run in – in particular.

South Wales Argus: Darcy Graham dives over the line for Edinburgh. Picture: Huw Evans Picture Agency.Darcy Graham dives over the line for Edinburgh. Picture: Huw Evans Picture Agency. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

“We need to hold some hard conversations about how that can happen in the first game of the season,” said Ryan.

“For the start of the season, after some of the quality we’ve shown in pre-season, that is not where we need to be.

“I thought we looked nervous in the first 20 minutes when we had some opportunities and couldn’t hold onto the ball.

“The second half is not good enough. Too many basic mistakes and if we're going to get better, we need to hold some hard conversations about why these things keep turning up.

“We can't afford to let a side score from their own 22 from a kick-off.

“We've got supposed talent in that side, but I don't see it at the moment.”

South Wales Argus: Dragons players leave the field dejected following a 44-6 defeat. Picture: Huw Evans Picture Agency.Dragons players leave the field dejected following a 44-6 defeat. Picture: Huw Evans Picture Agency. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Ryan placed the blame for the defeat squarely on the players, rather than the tactical approach, saying there were “some key fundamentals” that Dragons were not getting right.

When speaking after the game, he also challenged his senior players to step up and take charge following the defeat.

“It is going to be interesting to see where players take it,” he said.

“There's a lot of people talking now, it’ll be interesting to see what they do about it.

“I think there is a point when senior players need to come together and take it in a strong direction.

“I don't think this is about tactically what we're doing the middle third or anything else, this is about some key fundamentals that we're not getting right. We need to discuss those internally.”

Dragons will look to put on an improved performance as they host Munster and Cell C Sharks at Rodney Parade in the next two weeks.

“We've got to play together, got to hold conversations together, and we've got to go out and get better,” said Ryan.

“We are better than we were today so we will see if we can respond to that.”